How to Entertain at a Potluck

Group similar foods together on your potluck buffet.

Flag this photo

When guests help with cooking, entertaining is much more relaxing. After all, a less-frazzled host is more able to enjoy the party. In addition, the informal atmosphere and variety of dishes help make any shortcomings less noticeable. One meaning of "potluck" is taking your chance with the food. However, you and your guests get maximum enjoyment when you plan and prepare for your potluck.

Related Searches: Theme

The most successful potluck dinners have an organizational theme. Picking a theme helps the various dishes complement each other and creates synergy. Some party-givers pick a simple national theme, such as Mexican food. However, a more specific theme helps create a more interesting menu. For example, choose a type of food, such as pizza, or a vegetable in season.

Menu Planning

Plan a general menu to follow your theme. Include the main elements of the meal, such as starters, salad or soup, main dishes and dessert. Depending on the size of the potluck, plan to ask two guests to bring each menu item to avoid shortfalls. Decide what food you will provide as hostess and what guests should bring. For example, supply all beverages and an extra main dish. Alternately, plan to supply all of the main dish -- a roast turkey or barbecued chicken, for example. In this case, plan to ask the guests to bring side dishes, drinks, appetizers and dessert.

Inviting Guests

Invite your guests to the potluck, and ask them to contribute to the meal. However, avoid asking them to make a specific recipe that may be beyond their skills or budget. Instead, describe your needs, for example for a vegetable, appetizer or dessert in line with your theme. Ask them which item they would like to contribute. Let them know how many people their green salad or brownies should serve. Also ask them to complete most of the preparation at home to prevent overcrowding your kitchen. For example, ask them to bring salads fully assembled and casseroles already cooked and hot. Make notes of what each guest has agreed to bring.

Setting Up

As hostess, prepare the serving and eating areas, starting the day before. Prepare tables, chairs, tablecloths or place mats, plates, silverware, glassware and napkins. Take the time to choose tablecloths and centerpieces in line with your theme. Borrow extra plates or serving dishes as necessary. If you don't mind washing dishes, real pottery and silverware are much easier to use. The day of the potluck, arrange the buffet attractively, with extra bowls for chips or snacks. Stack the plates at the beginning of the line and the flatware at the end. Don't forget serving spoons and forks, ice, salt, pepper and other condiments.

Arranging Food

When guests arrive, arrange the food attractively and logically, grouping items by type, such as salad, main dish or dessert. If guests bring salads in plastic containers, transfer them to serving bowls. Position serving spoons and forks. Add parsley or other garnishes to make dishes more eye-catching.

Cleaning Up

Provide bins or tubs to make cleaning up easier. Mark separate tubs for disposable items, washable items and food scraps. Alternately, ask guests to put everything in one big bin for you to separate out later.

Leftovers

Provide disposable containers, plastic wrap, foil and zipper plastic bags for guests to take their own leftovers home. They may also want to share, swapping samples of the special dishes they have enjoyed. In any case, remind guests to take home their serving dishes and utensils.

ReferencesFood & Wine: How to Host a Potluck Dinner PartyHobbyFarms.com: Plan a PotluckPost-Gazette.com: Invite Your Pals to Pitch in for a PotluckFood Timeline: Meals & Holiday EntertainingResourcesFood & Wine: Potluck PartiesFood & Wine: Perfect Potluck RecipesSunset: Crowd-Pleasing Potluck DessertsPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty ImagesRead Next:

Print this articleCommentsFollow eHowFollow

View the Original article